By the age of 7, most children are already have a combination of baby teeth and adult teeth. This allows your orthodontist the opportunity to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems earlier on without surgery. Therefore, along with the American Association of Orthodontists, we recommend visiting the orthodontist around age seven.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatments
- Help permanent teeth come in straight by correcting and guiding the growth of your child’s jaw
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
- Create more space for crowded teeth
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
- Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
Signs You Might Need Early Orthodontic Treatments
- Difficulty when chewing or biting
• Chronic mouth-breathing
• Sucking the thumb, the fingers, or any other oral sucking habits that continue after the age of six
• Overbite – when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth by more than 5mm
• Top front teeth that cover more than 25% of the bottom teeth while biting
• Underbite – when the top front teeth go behind the bottom row of teeth when biting
• Crowded, crooked, overlapped, misshapen, misplaced teeth or extra teeth of any size
• Crossbite – when one or more teeth tilt toward the cheek or toward the tongue causing excessive stress on the jawbone
• The center of the top and bottom teeth don’t line up
• Uneven teeth-wearing
• Baby teeth coming out too early for the child’s age
• Pain in jaws
• Clicking in the jaw joints
• The jaw shifts off-center while chewing or biting
• A jaw that protrudes, or recedes, too much
• Difficulty speaking or enunciating clearly
• Chronic biting of the inner cheek or roof of the mouth
• Asymmetrical facial structure
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.
Orthodontic Treatment for Adults
More so than ever, adults are opting to receive orthodontic treatments. Teeth are stronger for longer these days, and we are constantly looking for ways to achieve the perfect smile.The American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21. Contact us today and schedule your consultation.
Common reasons why adults are considering orthodontic treatment:
- Overbite – when the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth by more than 5mm
- Top front teeth that cover more than 25% of the bottom teeth while biting
- Underbite – when the top front teeth go behind the bottom row of teeth when biting
- Crowded, crooked, overlapped, misshapen, misplaced teeth or extra teeth of any size
- Crossbite – when one or more teeth tilt toward the cheek or toward the tongue causing excessive stress on the jawbone
- The center of the top and bottom teeth don’t line up
- Uneven teeth-wearing
- Pain in Jaw
Treatment Options for Adults
If you’re concerned about having to maintain metal braces as an adult, you will be happy to know that there are multiple choices to choose from. Today’s orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs. Types of braces include:
Clear braces
Ceramic braces
Self-ligating braces
Lingual (behind the tooth) braces
Invisible braces
Traditional metal braces
Compare Orthodontics for Children and Orthodontics for Adults
The main difference between orthodontics for children and orthodontics for adults is age. Younger children Jawbones are still in development stage and adults have already been developed. Other common difference include periodontal disease and missing teeth. Our practice treats each patient as individuals; therefore, you will find that we provide different levels of treatments for children, teens, and adults.